Tensions over a tiny archipelago contested by China and Japan — the Chinese refer to the spits of land as the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese as the Senkaku Islands — have heightened in recent months, prompting Japanese businesses to shutter in China and sparking mass protests in a number of Chinese cities. The following are Hipstamatic images of a demonstration near the Japanese embassy in Beijing.

Anti-Japanese sentiment is no stranger to Chinese public opinion, where the horrors of World War II still fan nationalist flames. Tensions over a tiny archipelago claimed by Japan — the Chinese refer to the spits of land as the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese as the Senkaku Islands — have heightened in recent months, prompting Japanese businesses to shutter in China and sparking mass protests in a number of Chinese cities. U.S. officials have warned of the threat of armed conflict between the two Asian powers. The following are Hipstamatic images shot by one photographer at a demonstration near the Japanese embassy in Beijing.

That the Chinese people are bitter toward the Japanese for WWII is understandable, but how do they feel about their own government, a government where some have estimated killed approximately 30 million of its citizens during the "Cultural Revolution"? How quickly they have forgotten about the slaughter of their youth during Tianamen Square. There are a select few nations which have practiced genocide against their citizens, but only China remains as the one country whose governmental structure hasn't been changed by those acts. Say what you will against Japan, but they have never commited genocide against their own countrymen. I know I'd feel better with Japan at my back rather than the Chinese.

Mao and his cult killed and tortured much more innocent Chinese. But does anyone dare protest the communist government? Of course not, their government is considered to be their infallible God, just like north korea's dear leader. Maybe if they allow their citizens outside their firewall and let them think for themselves, they'll see who the real enemy is, a corrupt oligarchy hoarding china's wealth just like the west. The difference is no one in china dares criticize their own government in the news. Mao is to china what Allah is to Muslims. Pathetic.

Only a fascist government would encourage this much senseless violence. It keeps the public's mind off of more urgent matters like an increasingly large wealth gap, unaffordable real estate, and a slowing economy, now even slower thanks to these nationalistic morons. Even when china gets these islands, what does the PeoPle actually gain? Better feelings? Are those small islands going to pay for Chinese people's mortgage, food, tuition, air quality??

This is the surest sign that china is not a superpower. A vastly uneducated population easily provoked into angry mass hysteria, the exact conditions for what could be the next Cultural revolution. This time their behavior will bring them back to a collapse of their economy and back to the days of starvation. But don't worry, their rich politicians family are safe on the west hoarding their wealth and security.

Why are they doing this? Because China is in amidst of a political tension. The government just needed something to distract the citizens from going against them. Plus, many Chinese politicians need publicity stunts to raise their popularity. Also, China didn't even care about the Senkaku Islands until Japan discovered that it was filled with valuable underwater resources.

Japan took them in the war with China in 1895. It also took Taiwan at that time. After WW2, Taiwan was returned (to Republic of China, still the official name of Taiwan) but those islands were not. It is as simple as that. No body is rearranging history like you did.

"There are even Chinese maps from the 1800s that show the islands with Japanese names."

Do you know Japanese uses Chinese characters for names? Those Japanese names were exactly the same as the Chinese names, but Japan later changed them.

Seeing so many Chinese people take to the street in China to protest against the brutal occupation of our Diaoyu Island, I feel that I can finally walk on the street with dignity. We Chinese who have the longest civilization had been slaughtered like small games by the barbaric Japanese during their 8-year occupation of my poor motherland, China. 350,000.00 unarmed residents of my hometown, Nanking, some of them infants, young mothers and grandmas, were bayonetted to death or their heads were chopped off just by Japanese soldiers who were demonstrating how efficient the Japanese soldiers can be in eliminating Chinese people. The Japanese brutality is not limited to our Chinese civilians. They tortured and bayonetted American POWs to death as well. Unlike Japanese, we Chinese have an over 1000-year old Confucious moral code of conduct to follow. For the Japanese their goal justifies their means. If America continues to help Japan conquer Asia, Japan will kick America out of Asia-Paicificc again like the surprise attack on U.S Pearl Harbor during the second world war.

Who are the real friends of American people? We are. In the last 30 years we Chinese people worked extremely hard and made a few bucks from Sino-American trade. We did not spend the money we had made with our sweat. Instead we lent most of our hard-earned savingss to American people so that American people can continue to purchase, enjoy low inflation, and maintain confortable life style. In the meantime U.S. government has been executing one QE after another to depreciate U.S. currency we poor Chinese country bumpkins have been holding in our hands. U.S. Treasure's QE is aimed at wiping out the tiny interest as well as part of principal the US treasury promises to pay to international investors. Although we have been third world country bumpkins and financially taken advantage of by Americans for years, we at least should expect people including Americans to respect our sovereignty over and integrity of our motherland including our ancestor's Diaoyu Island. Americans need to realize that we Chinese unlike American native Indians are not conquered race and our country has not been eleminated. American politicians need to go back to history classes.

Seems like you also need to go back to history class, have you forgotten how many millions Mao has murdered?? Where's this so called "code of conduct" when it comes to slaughtering Tibetans and oppressing Uighurs?? Or letting corrupt officials get away with murder? And ignoring worldwide calls for stopping the sale of ivory to prevent elephant extinction? Not to mention all the selectively aborted female babies, the male female gender ratio is imbalanced

You're protests are completely illogical and ruled primarily by emotion with help from the CCP controlled media. Acting like barbarians destroying property will not bring back those who died in WWII. It will only dissuade tourism and foreign investment. But I'm sure china will always respond the only way they know how, with brutish violence. PRC must show the world that they too can start WWIII.

I bet the USA is eager for China to do another Pearl Harbor so that they could write off the debts. But sorry, that's not going to happen.

Let me remind you some of the atrocities the Japanese committed during WW2. There was Unit 731, which conducted live experiments in China on humans for biological weapons. It was authorized by imperial decree in 1936. Read them on Wikipedia and get your hairs standing on your scalp.

However, at the end of WW2, the USA spared the Japanese emperor for this anti humanity crime in exchange for complete control of Japan, including research results from Unit 731.

Today, the Japanese never get a chance to know exactly what really happened in history. Like your post, people just throw words like "murder" and "slaughter" around without getting a real history class.

@IQMinusOne we got books pal and FREE internet !my dad was in Korea in the Korean war fighting for south Korea . you gotta big mouth nothing to back it up. what books you got that said China didn't slaughter and brutalize Tibet?

You think that the rest of the world is so stupid! Japan is obviously play according to international law of 21st century. China is play JUNGLE LAW of the 15th century. Shame on you, chinese government, manipulate your

Now that Chinese government is manipulating its people,then how do you know that? introduction in English ,the culture u've learned from ur school, or simply the word from ur close friends?We don't feel shame on ourselves,because we're free thinking and always making efforts to progress.since you may not understand Chinese culture and even don't acknowledge the language,and dare u made your point like this,shame on you.

I do agree with you that the Chinese government (among others) manipulates people. But on the international stage, it is still jungle law of, well, the cavemen. Ever wondered why the US government hates Wikileaks and the Wall Street can run wild?